Colorado defense remains unfazed

Coaches like what they see despite ugly numbers last two games

BOULDER -- Two games into Pac-12 play, the Colorado football team has given up 101 points and 1,295 yards.

Those are ugly numbers, but Colorado (2-2, 0-2 Pac-12) isn't panicking about its defense just yet.

"You've just got to keep playing," head coach Mike MacIntyre said. "I think we're playing hard, I think we're making some plays, we're challenging them in some ways. Now we've just got to start finishing off more and more, and being more precise in our alignments and (making) our reads quicker."

CU gave up 755 yards in Saturday's 57-16 loss to No. 2 Oregon after allowing 540 yards in a 44-17 loss to Oregon State a week earlier.

The results are all too familiar for CU fans, who watched the Buffs give up 47.9 points per game in Pac-12 play last year. Senior linebacker Derrick Webb said this defense isn't the same as it was a year ago, though.

"No, not at all," he said. "There was no real resistance against (Oregon's) offense (last year). I feel like we really made them work (on Saturday), we really challenged them on defense. They had to go into their playbook a little bit and pull out some new things.

"We're just a lot more competitive out there (this year)."

Defensive coordinator Kent Baer said that while the results don't look good, progress is being made.

"I think those kids are still learning our defense and I think you have to take the positives and there was a lot of positives yesterday, there really was," he said.

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"People don't see that, but there are, and I want to make sure we look at those positives and be upbeat about them. And, I want to make sure that we learn from the things that we did wrong."

Baer said communication is key to his defense, and that area has to improve.

"There's a lot of communication involved in this defense," he said. "We have to continue to communicate. A couple of breakdowns (against Oregon), we communicated maybe halfway across the board, but we didn't get the whole communication all the way across."

Baer has been through this before, having struggled during his first season at San Jose State. Having gone through that, he believes CU will have a good defense eventually.

"I think the more veteran you get the better you'll be," he said. "We kind of faced the same at San Jose State. We had two true freshmen linebackers and it seemed like nothing went right their firstyear and then second year, wow, they started to pick it up. Third year, they were awesome.

"Some of our younger guys are playing really well. I think everybody has bought in. I really feel good about that.

"We just have to keep pushing it."

After facing two top-20 offenses - Oregon ranks No. 2 nationally with 59.2 points per game and Oregon State is 20th at 41.6 per game -the Buffs get another one this week. On Saturday, they'll visit Arizona State, which ranks 16th nationally with 42.2 points per game.

Record night for Gillam

Although the defense gave up a lot, true freshman linebacker Addison Gillam continues to shine. After watching film of the game, coaches credited Gillam with 18 tackles on Saturday (14 solo, four assisted). He was originally credited with 15.

The 18 tackles is a freshman record at CU, breaking the mark previously held by Terrel Smith (17 vs. Nebraska in 2010) and Matt Russell (17 vs. Oklahoma State in 1993).

Henderson making plays

Junior cornerback Greg Henderson has four interceptions - including two on Saturday - and a fumble recovery through the first four games.

"His work ethic has picked up," MacIntyre said. "He's pushing himself harder on a consistent basis. I think he can even get a lot better than he is."

Mariota for Heisman?

Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota is on the short list of Heisman Trophy favorites this season. On Saturday, he threw five touchdown passes and ran for two more.

If MacIntyre had a vote for the award, though, he wouldn't give it to the Ducks' sophomore.

"No, I still think Johnny Manziel is (the best)," MacIntyre said of the Texas A&M quarterback, who won the Heisman in 2012. "I think Mariota is great, but Johnny Manziel I think is pretty dadgum good. I'd like to see them both play against each other."

Notable

Defensive lineman Josh Tupou (ankle) did not practice Sunday after getting injured against Oregon. MacIntyre hopes Tupou will be healthy for Saturday. ... CU has given up at least 40 points in 15 of 20 conference games since joining the Pac-12 in 2011.

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